Catheter

Abstract

A flexible catheter includes two electrical contacts in a distal region of the catheter and a distal aperture of a hose line. The electrical contacts are connected to a high frequency pulse generator for applying pulsed radio frequency energy for nerve stimulation. A temperature sensor is located in the distal region of the catheter. The flexible catheter is inserted into a region in the spinal canal and the pulsed radio frequency generator is operated, thereby applying pulsed radio frequency energy to a localized region to be treated. The temperature at the distal region of the catheter can also be monitored, and the pulsed radio frequency energy is applied in dependence on the monitored temperature. With the catheter, pain and other medical conditions being related to and influenced by a nervous system are treated.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to nerve stimulation by electrically applying high frequency (radio frequency) energy to a localized region of a body. In particular, this invention relates to a flexible catheter or lead for treatment of a nervous system. More particularly this invention relates to a flexible epidural catheter and a method for applying pulsed radio frequency electrical energy to a region in the spinal canal. A fully implantable embodiment of the catheter further comprises a transducer being adapted to be subcutaneously implanted. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Catheters are known technical medical products which are manufactured for various intended purposes of usage in diagnostics or therapy. For instance, epidural catheters are known which can be inserted by a physician into the epidural space in the region of the spinal canal so as to be able to inject pain-killing drugs, for example. Such a m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029] Preferably, the catheter is an epidural catheter. When such a catheter is inserted into the region of the spinal canal, it is possible to apply a pulsed high frequency current via two electrical contacts to the spinal cord or the spinal nerves instead of or additionally to the injection of pain-killing drugs, according to requirements. Thus, by stimulating the nerves inside the spinal canal, in many cases a treatment or stimulation of nerve tissue with special needles outside the spinal column or in dangerous regions can be avoided, and also those nerves can be treated with high frequency pulses which otherwise would not have been accessible for this treatment. Thus, the catheter according to the invention opens up a distinctly enlarged range of application as compared to a conventional catheter or conventional needles.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, the transducer and the port are disposed in a flat casing being subcutaneously implantable. The combination of the port and the transducer in one casing facilitates locating them in case a drug is to be injected into the catheter, for example. Furthermore, the casing can accommodate the coil of the transducer, for example, and can serve as a supporting surface for the injection chamber or for the port, thus facilitating the handling when introducing an injection needle into the port.

Problems solved by technology

However, usage of these rigid special needles is frequently limited due to anatomical reasons or is avoided because of the risk of injury at introducing the special needles.

However, an upper limit of the intensity of the stimulation is given by possible damage or destruction of the tissue and varies depending on the location and the design of the catheter or special needles and on the structure of the surrounding tissue.

However, this is not suitable for selective stimulation of nerves.

The electrodes are, however, not adapted for electrical stimulation.

The electrode is, however, not adapted for electrical stimulation.

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